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GB2336894A - Cryogenic distillation of air using double column and mixing column. - Google Patents

Cryogenic distillation of air using double column and mixing column. Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2336894A
GB2336894A GB9909776A GB9909776A GB2336894A GB 2336894 A GB2336894 A GB 2336894A GB 9909776 A GB9909776 A GB 9909776A GB 9909776 A GB9909776 A GB 9909776A GB 2336894 A GB2336894 A GB 2336894A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
column
mixing
pressure
pressure column
low
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9909776A
Other versions
GB2336894B (en
GB9909776D0 (en
Inventor
Alain Guillard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Air Liquide SA
LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Original Assignee
Air Liquide SA
LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Air Liquide SA, LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude filed Critical Air Liquide SA
Publication of GB9909776D0 publication Critical patent/GB9909776D0/en
Publication of GB2336894A publication Critical patent/GB2336894A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2336894B publication Critical patent/GB2336894B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04763—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used
    • F25J3/04866—Construction and layout of air fractionation equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J3/04945—Details of internal structure; insulation and housing of the cold box
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04248—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion
    • F25J3/04284—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using internal refrigeration by open-loop gas work expansion, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams
    • F25J3/0429—Generation of cold for compensating heat leaks or liquid production, e.g. by Joule-Thompson expansion using internal refrigeration by open-loop gas work expansion, e.g. of intermediate or oxygen enriched (waste-)streams of feed air, e.g. used as waste or product air or expanded into an auxiliary column
    • F25J3/04303—Lachmann expansion, i.e. expanded into oxygen producing or low pressure column
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/0446—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air using the heat generated by mixing two different phases
    • F25J3/04466—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air using the heat generated by mixing two different phases for producing oxygen as a mixing column overhead gas by mixing gaseous air feed and liquid oxygen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04763—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used
    • F25J3/04866—Construction and layout of air fractionation equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J3/04872—Vertical layout of cold equipments within in the cold box, e.g. columns, heat exchangers etc.
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04763—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used
    • F25J3/04866—Construction and layout of air fractionation equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J3/04872—Vertical layout of cold equipments within in the cold box, e.g. columns, heat exchangers etc.
    • F25J3/04884—Arrangement of reboiler-condensers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04763—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used
    • F25J3/04866—Construction and layout of air fractionation equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J3/0489—Modularity and arrangement of parts of the air fractionation unit, in particular of the cold box, e.g. pre-fabrication, assembling and erection, dimensions, horizontal layout "plot"
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
    • F25J2200/04—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification in a dual pressure main column system
    • F25J2200/06—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification in a dual pressure main column system in a classical double column flow-sheet, i.e. with thermal coupling by a main reboiler-condenser in the bottom of low pressure respectively top of high pressure column
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2240/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for expanding of process streams
    • F25J2240/40—Expansion without extracting work, i.e. isenthalpic throttling, e.g. JT valve, regulating valve or venturi, or isentropic nozzle, e.g. Laval
    • F25J2240/42—Expansion without extracting work, i.e. isenthalpic throttling, e.g. JT valve, regulating valve or venturi, or isentropic nozzle, e.g. Laval the fluid being air
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S62/00—Refrigeration
    • Y10S62/90—Triple column

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)

Abstract

A plant for the cryogenic distillation of air comprises a medium pressure column 2, a low pressure column 3, a reboiler 4 and a mixing column 5 for mixing a gas and a liquid. The low pressure column, medium pressure column and mixing column are placed one on top of another to form a single erected structure. The reboiler may also form part of the structure. In constructing the plant, the structure is surrounded by a thermal insulation jacket. The mixing column can be fed by an air stream to supply impure oxygen e.g. for use in the iron and steel industry.

Description

2336894 -I- AIR DISTILLATION PLANT The present invention relates to an air
distillation plant of the type comprising a double column and a mixing column for mixing a gas and a liquid, the double column itself comprising a medium-pressure column, a low-pressure column and a reboiler for bringing the gas at the top of the medium-pressure column into heat-exchange relationship with the liquid at the bottom of the lowpressure column.
The invention can be used to supply impure oxygen, for example, for feeding blast furnaces in the iron and steel industry.
In order to provide such a supply of impure oxygen, it is known to use a plant of the aforementioned type. The mixing column operates at a pressure approximately equal to or less than the medium pressure. It is fed at the bottom with purified and compressed air and at the top with impure liquid oxygen removed from the bottom of the low-pressure column and pumped to the pressure of the mixing column. The impure gaseous oxygen to be supplied is withdrawn from the top of the mixing column approximately at the pressure of the mixing column.
In general, the low-pressure column sits on top of the reboiler, which itself sits above the medium-pressure column. The double column then forms a first structure erected on site and the mixing column is arranged beside the double column, forming a second erected structure. Each erected structure is surrounded by a thermal insulation jacket which holds pearlite around the erected structure forming a cold box.
Moreover, it is desirable to prefabricate air distillation plants in sections which each comprise a structure and the thermal insulation jacket of a cold box. Each section is transported onto a site and then erected. Next, the erected structures are ftmetionally connected and the cold boxes filled with pearlite in order to complete the construction of the air distillation plant.
Such a method of construction makes it possible to limit the construction operations on the site. Excessive construction on site creates problems, including on the one hand, that all the necessary infrastructures may not be available and, on the other hand, that prevailing environmental conditions may impede the construction operations.
We have now devised an air distillation plant of the aforementioned type, in which the degree of prefabrication may be higher.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an air distillation plant of the aforementioned type, wherein the mediumpressure column, the low-pressure column and the mixing column are arranged one on top of another, forming a single erected structure.
Depending on the particular embodiments, the plant of the invention may comprise one or more of the following features taken individually or in any technically possible combination:
- the plant furthermore comprises means for sending gaseous air into the bottom of the mixing column, means for sending an oxygen-rich liquid into the top of the mixing column and a production line for gaseous impure oxygen withdrawn from the top of the mixing column; - the erected structure also comprises the reboiler; the mixing column is arranged below the medium-pressure and low-pressure columns; - the medium-pressure column is arranged below the low-pressure column; and _ the reboiler is arranged at least partly at a level intermediate between the top of the medium-pressure column and the bottom of the low- pressure column.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a cold box adapted for the construction of a plant according to the invention, wherein it comprises the said erected structure and a thermal insulation jacket surrounding the said structure.
The invention may be more clearly understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the single figure which is a diagrammatic view of a plant according to the invention.
The single figure shows an air distillation plant 1 which essentially comprises:
_ a double distillation column which includes a medium-pressure column 2, a low-pressure column 3 and a reboiler 4; - a mixing column 5; - a main heat-exchange line 6; two auxiliary heat exchangers 7 and 8; - a main air compressor 9; an apparatus 10 for purifying air by absorption; - an auxiliary air compressor 11 coupled to an air-expansion turbine 12; and a pump 13.
The low-pressure column 3 sits on top of the reboiler 4. The reboiler 4 sits on top of the medium-pressure column 2 which itself sits on top of the mixing column 5.
A linking skirt 15 connects the columns 2 and 5, keeping the top of the column 5 separated from the bottom of the column 2.
The columns 2, 3 and 5 and the reboiler 4 thus form a single erected structure 16, the top of which consists of the low-pressure column 2 and the base of which consists of the mixing column 5.
This structure 16 is surrounded by a thermal insulation jacket 17 (in dotdash line) which holds the perlite (not shown) around the structure 16, forming a cold box bearing the same numerical reference 17. The operation of this plant 1, intended to supply medium-pressure impure oxygen, is as follows. 5 The air to be distilled, precompressed by the compressor 9 and purified by the apparatus 10, is then split into two streams. A first stream passes through the main heatexchange line 6, being cooled down to near its dew point.
Next, this first stream is itself split into two streams, one of which is injected into the bottom of the medium-pressure column 2 and the other of which is injected, after expansion in an expansion valve 22, into the bottom of the mixing column 5.
The second stream of compressed and purified air is compressed by the compressor 11, then cooled to an intermediate temperature by passing partially through the main heat-exchange line 6 and, finally, expanded on passing through the turbine 12. Next, this second stream is introduced into the low-pressure column 3 at an upper intermediate level.
The reboiler 4 vaporizes the liquid oxygen, of approximately 98% purity, coming from the bottom of the low-pressure column 3 by condensing the nitrogen at the top of the medium-pressure column 2.
"Rich liquid" LR (oxygen- enr i ched air), bled off from the bottom of the medium-pressure column 2, is supercooled on passing through the auxiliary heat exchanger 7, then expanded in an expansion valve 26 and finally injected into the low-pressure column 3 at the aforementioned upper intermediate level.
"Depleted liquid" LP (nearly pure nitrogen), bled off from the top of the medium-pressure column 2, is supercooled on passing through the auxiliary heat exchanger 7, then expanded in an expansion valve 27 and finally injected into the top of the low-pressure column 3.
Impure or "residual" nitrogen NR, withdrawn from the top of the lowpressure column 3, is warmed firstly on passing through the auxiliary heat exchanger 7 and then secondly on passing through the main heat5 exchange line 6.
The operation of the mixing column 5 will now be described.
A mixing column is a column which has the same structure as a distillation column but which is used for mixing, in a manner close to reversibility, a relatively volatile gas introduced at the base of the column and a less volatile liquid introduced at the top of the column. Such mixing produces the refrigerating energy and therefore allows the consumption of energy associated with the distillation to be reduced. Such a column is, for example, described in document FR-A2, 143, 986. In the present case, this mixture is furthermore positively used to produce impure oxygen directly at a pressure slightly below that prevailing in the medium-pressure column 2.
Thus, liquid oxygen is withdrawn from the bottom of the low-pressure column 3, then pumped by the pump 13 and warmed on passing through the auxiliary heat exchanger 8. Next, this liquid oxygen is introduced into the top of the mixing column 5.
A second oxygen-rich liquid is bled off from the bottom of the mixing column 5 and then supercooled on passing through the auxiliary heat exchanger 8. Finally, the second rich liquid is expanded in an expansion valve 29 before being introduced into the low-pressure column 3 at a lower intermediate level.
Oxygen-enriched air, in liquid form, is withdrawn from an intermediate level of the mixing column 5 and then supercooled on passing through the auxiliary heat exchanger 8. Finally, this liquid is expanded in an expansion valve 30 before being introduced into the low-pressure column 3 at the aforementioned upper intermediate level.
Impure gaseous oxygen, of approximately 95% purity, is bled off from the top of the mixing column and then warmed on passing through the main heatexchange line 6 and delivered via a production line 31.
The cold box 17 was prefabricated in the form of a factoryassembled packet, then transported, erected and functionally connected to the other pieces of equipment on site and then filled with perlite in order to form the plant 1.
The height of this cold box 17 is less than m. Thus, the corresponding packet may be transported by conventional transportation means.
This relatively low height is due to the process employed by the plant 1. This is because the number of theoretical trays of the medium-pressure column 2 and of the low-pressure column 3 is relatively small. Thus, the respective heights of the columns 2 and 3 are about 10 m and 15 m.
In addition, the number of theoretical trays of the mixing column 5 is relatively small and the height of this column 5 is about 15 m.
The plant 1 according to the invention may be prefabricated as a single transportable packet which comprises both the double distillation column and the mixing column 5.
The r_ela.tive positioning of the mediumpressure column 2, the lowpressure column 3 and the mixing column 5 makes it possible, on the one hand, for the liquids to flow from and to the reboiler 4 without using pumping means, by placing the reboiler 4 between the medium- pressure column 2 and the low-pressure column 3.
According to variants, the structure 16 may comprise, in addition to the columns 2, 3 and 5, a tank for storing a cryogenic liquid, especially liquid oxygen, withdrawn from the bottom of the mediumpressure column, a section of an impure-argon production column, called a mixture column, or any other element for confining a cryogenic fluid, care being take not to exceed the size limits of the transportation means to be used. According to another variant, the mixing column may comprise a bottom condenser, the plant 1 then being 5 of the type described in document EP-A-732,556. In addition, the order of the columns 2, 3 and 5, and of the reboiler 4, in the structure 16 may be different from that in Figure 1. Moreover, the erected structure 16 may not include the reboiler 4, which is then placed beside the erected structure 16.
In both cases, the reboiler 4 is preferably placed so that part of it is at a level intermediate between the top of the medium-pressure column 2 and the bottom of the low-pressure column 3.
Such an arrangement makes it possible to minimize the pumping means necessary for circulating, on the one hand, liquid oxygen f rom the bottom of the low-pressure column 3 to the reboiler 4 and, on the other hand, condensed gaseous nitrogen from the reboiler 4 to the top of the medium-pressure column 2, this being so whatever the type of reboiler 4, namely of the bath type, liquid-oxygen falling-film type (so called film reboiler), etc.
This characteristic may be obtained, if the reboiler 4 does.not form part of the erected structure 16, by placing the reboiler 4 at the top of another erected structure. This other erected structure comprises, for example, an element for confining a cryogenic fluid, such as a section of an impure-argon production column, on which the reboiler 4 is placed.
Such a variant furthermore has the advantage that the prefabrication of the cold box 17 is independent of that of the reboiler 4.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS:
1. An air distillation plant comprising a double column and a mixing column for mixing a gas and a liquid, the double column itself comprising a medium-pressure column, and low-pressure column and a reboiler for bringing the gas at the top of the medium-pressure column into heatexchange relationship with the liquid at the bottom of the low-pressure column, wherein the medium-pressure column, the low-pressure column and the mixing column are placed one on top of another, forming a single erected structure.
2. A plant according to claim 1, further comprising means for sending gaseous air into the bottom of the mixing column, means for sending an oxygenrich liquid into the top of the mixing column and a production line for gaseous impure oxygen withdrawn from the top of the mixing column.
3.
A plant according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the structure also includes the reboiler.
4. A plant according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the mixing column is arranged below the medium-pressure and low-pressure columns.
A plant according to any preceding claim, wherein the mediumpressure column is arranged below the low-pressure column.
5.
6. A plant according to any preceding claim, wherein the reboiler is placed at least partly at a level intermediate between the top of the mediumpressure column and the bottom of the low-pressure column.
7.
A cold box adapted for the construction of a plant according to any preceding claim, wherein it comprises the said erected structure and a thermal insulation jacket surrounding the said structure.
8. An air distillation plant substantially as described herein, with reference to Fig. 1.
9.
A cold box substantially as described herein, with reference to Fig. 1.
GB9909776A 1998-04-30 1999-04-28 Air distillation plant Expired - Fee Related GB2336894B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9805531A FR2778233B1 (en) 1998-04-30 1998-04-30 AIR DISTILLATION SYSTEM AND CORRESPONDING COLD BOX

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Publication Number Publication Date
GB9909776D0 GB9909776D0 (en) 1999-06-23
GB2336894A true GB2336894A (en) 1999-11-03
GB2336894B GB2336894B (en) 2001-11-14

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US (1) US6182470B1 (en)
DE (1) DE19919587B4 (en)
FR (1) FR2778233B1 (en)
GB (1) GB2336894B (en)

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US7094285B2 (en) * 2000-09-20 2006-08-22 Goodrich Corporation Inorganic matrix compositions, composites incorporating the matrix, and process of making the same
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US6966945B1 (en) * 2000-09-20 2005-11-22 Goodrich Corporation Inorganic matrix compositions, composites and process of making the same
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EP2553370B1 (en) 2010-03-26 2019-05-15 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Device for the cryogenic separation of air
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FR2778233A1 (en) 1999-11-05
GB2336894B (en) 2001-11-14
DE19919587B4 (en) 2007-08-16
FR2778233B1 (en) 2000-06-02
GB9909776D0 (en) 1999-06-23
US6182470B1 (en) 2001-02-06

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